Kansas Municipal News
Municipal Bond Trends for October 22, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Wichita City Council discusses future of old water plant
The new Wichita water facility is set to come online in 2026. On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council discussed the future of the existing water plant. The city’s proposal included demolishing the old plant, preserving it or using it for emergencies.
Source: KWCH
Wichita working to bring more than 100 short-term rentals into compliance
The City of Wichita is working to bring more than 100 short-term rentals into compliance, pointing out that nearly one in four are operating without a license. “We’ve sent out 130 notices of violations to short-term rental owners. If they don’t comply, they could receive a first-time violation of $500,” City of Wichita Communications Manager Megan Lovely explained.
Source: KWCH
Prairie Village bans short-term rentals like Airbnbs over owners’ objections
Short-term rental owners in Prairie Village need to switch gears following a newly adopted ban. After a tense and lengthy public comment session Monday night, the Prairie Village City Council voted 10-2 effectively ban short-term rentals inside the city, requiring all such properties have a minimum of a 30-day stay. Short-term rentals like AirBnbs and Vrbos.
Source: Johnson County Post
Overland Park’s new top cop wants to bring transparency and innovation to the job
In the wake of upheaval within the Overland Park Police Department, new Chief of Police Doreen Jokerst — the city’s first female top cop — wants to take on a “forward-thinking” approach to law enforcement as a “servant leader.” “I believe public service is a gift, that this badge should not be taken lightly, and it should be worn with integrity,” Chief Jokerst said in an interview with the Post. “It’s going to be about learning people and ensuring people have a seat at the table and those that may never have had a seat at the table, making sure that they’re invited.” Officer John Lacy, the department’s public information officer, said there has been excitement about Jokerst’s arrival. “The city, the residents and employees of Overland Park, we’re really happy that she’s here, and at the same time, we are looking for what changes she’s going to make for the better for the Overland Park Police Department,” he told the Post.
Source: Johnson County Post
Merriam OKs first-ever requests for flag displays at city hall
With the city of Merriam’s new flag display policy in place, two additional flags will be flown on city property next summer. The Merriam City Council last week unanimously voted to approve requests by a councilmember to fly the LGBTQ/Pride flag as well as the Juneteenth flag at the base of a flag pole display area in front of city hall, 9001 W. 62nd St. These flags will fly on four separate poles at the base of the three flag poles already at city hall. This comes a few months after the city council unanimously voted to adopt a new flag display policy, a move prompted by the city council’s decision to exclude “thin blue line” flags from the city’s Flags 4 Freedom event.
Source: Johnson County Post
Task force says Kansas schools should ban cellphones for all students
An advisory group created by Kansas education leaders is recommending that schools ban cellphones for students at every grade level. A majority of the 36-member Blue Ribbon Task Force on Student Screen Time voted to recommend that districts prohibit students from using cellphones for the entire school day, including during lunch and passing periods. They also voted to recommend that students store personal devices “in a secure location that is not accessible to them during the school day.” The group meets again this week and plans to make its final report with recommendations to the Kansas State Board of Education in November.
Source: KCUR News
Wichita gets look at how much water rates could increase
The cost of providing water and sewer services in Wichita has gone up more than expected. So, the Wichita City Council is being asked to pass some of the costs on to customers. The city has been using the same rate plan since December 2019. On Tuesday, Gary Janzen, director of Wichita Public Works and Utilities, told the council that the 2019 plan is no longer sustainable due to rising inflation and staffing costs. He recommends a 6.14% rate hike in 2025. For residential customers who don’t use much water, it would be an increase of $3.21 a month. Mid-level users would pay $4.79 more a month, and high-volume users would pay $9.59 more a month.
Source: KSN-TV
$9 million to be invested to address water woes in Kansas
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced $9 million in funding for the Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Project and the Kansas Water Transition Assistance Program. The Equus Beds Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project diverts water from the Little Arkansas River when levels are high, removes particulates, salt and other chlorides, organic material, and sediment, and pumps the water into the Equus Beds Aquifer that is deep underneath Sedgwick, Reno, Harvey, and McPherson counties. The project has been active since the early 2000s, but there has been a significant drop in water levels over the past few years. In addition, the Kansas Voluntary Agreements Program will receive $2 million for the state’s Kansas Water Transition Assistance Program in either the Prairie Dog Creek or Rattlesnake Creek Basins. Under the program, landowners can voluntarily sign over their water rights in exchange for compensation from the state. The funding for both programs comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, through the Department of the Interior.
Source: KSN-TV
Garden City Fire Department giving out free smoke alarms, installation
The Garden City Fire Department said it is giving away free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for Finney County residents. A Facebook post from the GCFD said the initiative is a part of the “Get Alarmed Kansas” program. Detectors for hearing-impaired individuals are also available. GCFD said it will also install the detectors as well.
Source: KSN-TV
Franklin’s Miners Hall Museum plans for preservation and expansion
Preserving the past and preparing for the future are part of the same program at a southeast Kansas museum. Staff with Franklin’s Miners Hall Museum are participating in an assessment of their facility and collection to do just that. Two assessors, paid from by a grant from the Foundation for Preservation and Advancement, aren’t just assigning a dollar value, though. They’ll also be giving advice on how to make sure these artifacts can last for generations to come.
Source: KSNF/KODE
Long lines at Sedgwick County voting sites set record for first day of early voting
More than 3,600 people turned out Monday in Sedgwick County to cast their ballot on the first day of early in-person voting for the 2024 general election. Long lines formed outside early voting places in the county, and Tuesday morning saw more of the same. Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater said Monday was a record-setting day for the first day of early voting, but figures for comparable first days in the 2016 and 2020 November general elections were not immediately available. Monday ended with a 3,627 in-person votes cast. In 2016, about 51,000 early in-person votes were cast, and 2020 saw 67,000 early voters, according to data from the Sedgwick County Election Office.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
County in ongoing litigation over Bitcoin mine
After repeated denials for rezoning requests from both Harvey County Commissioners and planning and zoning board, Print Crypto Inc. filed an appeal with the courts to overturn the decision. Since late 2022, the county heard from both Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and Print Crypto, Inc. about the Bitcoin mining operation taking place at the cooperative’s substation located at 8399 S.E. 84th, Whitewater. The company received a conditional use permit, and Print Crypto, Inc. paid Butler Electric to use one acre of land for its Bitcoin mining operation. After Planning and Zoning Director Karen Rothe received several complaints from neighboring residents, Rothe brought the issue up to the planning and zoning board. Over the course of several meetings, the board heard both from neighbors who complained about the noise as well as road blockages. Owners of both Print Crypto and Butler Electric spoke to the board, requesting a zoning change from A-1 agricultural to rural development services. Both the planning and zoning board and county commission denied the rezoning, stating that the change doesn’t align with the county comprehensive plan or meet the necessary criteria.
Source: Harvey County Now
Out-of-district enrollment impacts districts differently
With legislative changes to out-of-district enrollment allowing students to choose which district to attend, some Harvey County schools were more open to the change than others. Halstead saw a jump in overall out-of-district students, although only a portion was from open enrollment. Superintendent Ron Barry said the district had 71 out-of-district students this year, which is a jump from 55 students last school year.
Source: Harvey County Now
City returning solar regs to planning commission
The Great Bend City Council sent an ordinance on solar regulations within the 3-mile zone back to the Planning Commission when it met Monday. City Administrator Logan Burns had already recommended that action so the commission could consider recommended changes. After Great Bend resident Leslie Barrett shared community concerns about setbacks, the council added those to the list of possible changes.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Governor Kelly Announces Evergy to Invest More than $2B in Two New High-efficiency Natural Gas Plants
Governor Laura Kelly joined Evergy executives and legislative leaders today to announce that the company will invest more than $2 billion in building two new 705 megawatt (MW) combined-cycle natural gas plants in Kansas. Together, the new projects will provide more than 1,400 MW of dispatchable power. “Kansas is experiencing record economic growth, and Evergy is prepared to deliver the reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy needed.” Governor Laura Kelly said. “Evergy’s multi-billion-dollar investment brings direct value to the Hutchinson and Sumner County areas in jobs and tax dollars. It also ensures Kansas can continue to invite business growth that benefits the entire state.” The plant in Sumner County is expected to begin providing electricity in 2029, and the plant in Reno County is expected to be in service in 2030.
Source: Governor of the State of Kansas
CNBC Daily Open: Concerns over high interest rates return, pressuring stocks
U.S. markets were mixed on Monday. The Nasdaq Composite rose while the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell, with the latter snapping its three-day winning streak. The 10-year Treasury yield jumped almost 12 basis points. Europe’s Stoxx 600 index lost 0.66%, with almost all sectors retreating, though oil and gas stocks managed to gain 0.6%. The S&P 500 will return just 3% over the next 10 years, on an annualized and nominal basis, forecast Goldman Sachs’ equity strategy team led by David Kostin. By comparison, the index has returned an average 13% annually over the last 10 years, according to Goldman. The team pointed to high valuations and concentration in today’s stock market as reasons for their forecast.
Source: CNBC – Bonds
Commerce Announces New Round of Funding for HEAL Grants
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland today announced that $1.5 million is available for a fifth round of Historic Economic Asset Lifeline (HEAL) grants to revitalize dilapidated and underutilized downtown buildings in small communities across the state. These grants help close the financial gaps for communities striving to make their downtown districts economically vibrant. Since Commerce launched the program in 2021, nearly $5 million has been awarded to fund 87 different community projects throughout Kansas.
Source: Kansas Department of Commerce
Municipal Bond Trends for October 21, 2024
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer’s credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.
Kansas economy growing rapidly: More workers needed to support revitalization
Armed with a new economic report, Kansas officials touted jobs data while warning that the workforce continues to face a challenge of not enough laborers. “It’s simple: we need more humans in Kansas to keep up with the phenomenal economic growth our state is experiencing,” said Lt. Gov. David Toland, who is also the Commerce secretary.
Source: Salina Journal